Solar question....

[offroadbiker]

I am no expert, but the 1+1 panel is a relatively easy fix.

Put 2 x BH plugs on top of one another. Wire them in parallel with one another - and with one pos. and neg. wire going to your ctek.
Thus, use one plug permanently with rtt solar panel and then when the portable one is setup - plug it into the open BH plug.

I can try and make a drawing of this mental picture of mine?

The only mental in my life is mentally insane but I think I get the "picture"

[Andre_gtr]

I use a mc4 dual connector when running 2x 100w panels on my d250s

download.jpg (6.98 KiB) Viewed 8749 times

[offroadbiker]

https://solarpanelsvenue.com/mixing-solar-panels/

Seems to be a good article

[NoPressure]

Those connectors, though very quick and handy, don't last long when they vibrate and shake over corrugated roads. I have lost two sets like that.

The setup illustrated is also perfect for panels that are either both fixed, or both loose - as the connections demand the panels to be connected to one another permanently. Your plan is to keep them separate most of the time, but connected some of the time?

A quick drawing (no - it wasn't my 3 year old, I'm just in a rush ). The BH plugs have a hole in the middle to adjoin them easy.

[offroadbiker]

So I decided on my setup - the way I want it.

Anthony's problem to make it work

Current:

C-tek "something" that looks after batteries via 220V when parked in garage.
C-tek 250S currently installed in rear of vehicle(behind back seats) with a Brad Harrison plug accesable through Gull wing.
1x solar pannel currently stored under roofrack - can only be used when standing still and connected to C-tek via 10m extention.

Future:

Install seperate MPPT controler next to C-tek.
Wire up aditional Brad Harrison in Gull wing.
Install 2nd solar pannel on Hard shell rooftop tent - panel to be removable.

Batteries will be charged as follows:
1. When the vehicle is parked - via C-tek smart charger.
2. When vehicle is in use - via the Alternator and C-tek 250S.
3. When vehicle is stationary but not at camp - via solar pannel on rooftop and MPPT.
4. When vehicle is stationary at camp- via both solar pannels connetted parralel and C-tek 250S.

I "think" this would be the optimal use I can get out of the equipment.

For this I only need to buy 1x solar pannel and get Anthony to install it.

As for having 2x different pannels - as long as both is less than 23V, connecting them in parralel I will have ?V = to the smallest V output of the 2 pannels.

Looking at getting a panel from 4x4 direct. 100W / 120W / 150W - space/size available on rooftop will determine which one, they are all 18V

[Tinus lotz]

Put 2 panels in parralel then volage stay the same but current x2

[offroadbiker]

Put 2 panels in parralel then volage stay the same but current x2

Yep, that is part of the "camp" setup